The MARVELOUS, FANTASTIC and BRAVEST... your kids!!!
The Debate Club members concluded their season with a well thought out and inspiring debate. Every year, I get nervous a few weeks from debate night and this year was no different. But something happens… it all starts coming together and debate night was awesome!
This program is for the kids and the work is the kids. The advisors are here to give direction and keep the students honest. Otherwise, it is all theirs. They decide the resolutions, how the team would split up the work, the research, writing, how it would be presented, note taking and the "on the spot" rebuttal writing.
I am proud of the work every single debater. You are the best!
This program is for the kids and the work is the kids. The advisors are here to give direction and keep the students honest. Otherwise, it is all theirs. They decide the resolutions, how the team would split up the work, the research, writing, how it would be presented, note taking and the "on the spot" rebuttal writing.
I am proud of the work every single debater. You are the best!
Debate night has been set for December 14th at 6:30PM in the Bradford gym. If all goes well, we will be done by 8:00PM. We will also have class on December 14th.
Saturday, December 3rd - In order for the teams to get extra time working together, I am going to have a few teams each day come my room for lunch and recess (for one or two days). It will be a working lunch! This will not be all the debaters on the same day.
Wednesday, November 30th - One more class to go! The kids spent the class working on their debate topic. The instructors traveled around the groups and heard a lot of good things. The debaters have done a great job of appointing a leader and assigning each other parts in the debate.
IMPORTANT... Debaters should be working at home, so they are just putting the final touches when they come to class on 12/14.
IMPORTANT... Debaters should be working at home, so they are just putting the final touches when they come to class on 12/14.
Wednesday, November 16th - The students were broken up into teams and began to prepare for their debate on December 14th at 6:30PM in the Bradford Multipurpose Room (gym). All family and friends are invited. Over the next couple of classes, the students will research, write their propositions and be prepared to write their rebuttals on stage. Some of this will need to be done at home. Here is the schedule for the rest of the year...
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* November 23rd - no class (early dismissal - Thanksgiving)
* November 30th - class
* December 7th - no class (early dismissal - Parent/Teacher Conferences)
* December 14th - class after school with regular 4:30 pick up. Students will receive their shirts at this class.
* December 14th - Debate starts at 6:30 (students should arrive about 10 minutes earlier... wearing their team shirt)
* November 30th - class
* December 7th - no class (early dismissal - Parent/Teacher Conferences)
* December 14th - class after school with regular 4:30 pick up. Students will receive their shirts at this class.
* December 14th - Debate starts at 6:30 (students should arrive about 10 minutes earlier... wearing their team shirt)
Wednesday, November 9th - We spent a few minutes before class voting on the student created resolutions. Next week, we will break up into teams and start working on our topics. Why didn't we do it this week? Another great question. The last piece of the debate puzzle is research. We discussed what is good evidence, how to find it and how to reference the material. The kids were randomly paired into groups of two (one 4th grader and one 5th grader) and instructed to find one piece of evidence for and against two of the resolutions on the board. While the students were on the laptops researching, the instructors (five adults and two former club members, now in middle school) checked in on the debaters progress. The last 15 minutes of class was spent on students sharing examples of their research. The other students and instructors critiqued the work... why was it good, what was missing, how could it be better presented...
Wednesday, November 2nd - Class was cancelled!!! I am sorry about the last minute change of plans, but your fearless leader (Mr. Liddy) had quite a dose of fear.... I never miss school, but I felt so bad Wednesday morning that I had to go to the hospital. I am still alive and feeling better. Not great, but better. Don't worry about next week... We will have debate club! Thanks for your understanding.
Wednesday, October 25th - Class started off rather well today. We discussed the resolutions that students developed and they will vote on them next week. Then we had two issues that really bothered me and yes, it is true that I told the kids that I was canceling the rest of the debate classes. I decided it was not fair to lump all the kids together, so I had them write in their notebooks why they want to be a part of the debate club. We got back on track and worked on note taking. The students developed their "ARE" (Assertion, Reasoning, Evidence) based on one of these resolutions...
•If you find $100, is it yours to keep?
•Should schools have dress codes?
•Should girls and boys have their own schools?
•Should students get paid for attending school?
Then came the hard work... students volunteered to read their work and the rest of the class practiced taking notes. It is a difficult task, but the kids began to get the hang of it. Note taking is an important skill to learn for debating, because how else can they write their rebuttal?
By the way... debate is not cancelled.
•If you find $100, is it yours to keep?
•Should schools have dress codes?
•Should girls and boys have their own schools?
•Should students get paid for attending school?
Then came the hard work... students volunteered to read their work and the rest of the class practiced taking notes. It is a difficult task, but the kids began to get the hang of it. Note taking is an important skill to learn for debating, because how else can they write their rebuttal?
By the way... debate is not cancelled.
Wednesday, October 19th - Probably one of the most important debate classes of the year...we picked uniform colors! We also learned about resolutions. These are the questions that the students will debate. They should come in with a resolution between now and next Tuesday, so the class can vote on their favorites. We are moving closer to finalizing the "Big Debate". I should have all the details worked out to inform the students next week.
Not sure what to focus on or what to avoid when coming up with a great resolution...
1.Pick something you feel strongly about.
2. Avoid your "hot button" topics.
3. Pick something controversial.
4. Avoid "tired topics."
* Why you should recycle.
* Why you should adopt a pet.
* Why you should wear your seat belt.
5. Pick a current event.
6. Pick a school or local issue.
7. Pick an issue of interest to the audience.
8. Pick a smaller part of a big issue.
9. Be cautious with issues that some audience members might find offensive.
Not sure what to focus on or what to avoid when coming up with a great resolution...
1.Pick something you feel strongly about.
2. Avoid your "hot button" topics.
3. Pick something controversial.
4. Avoid "tired topics."
* Why you should recycle.
* Why you should adopt a pet.
* Why you should wear your seat belt.
5. Pick a current event.
6. Pick a school or local issue.
7. Pick an issue of interest to the audience.
8. Pick a smaller part of a big issue.
9. Be cautious with issues that some audience members might find offensive.
Wednesday, October 5th - Refutation was the word of the day. We looked at how to put together a rebuttal in a debate using 4 steps...
Step 1: “They say…”
Step 2: “But…”
Step 3: “Because…”
Step 4: “Therefore…”
Maybe your kid tried this out on you at home when you told them "no" to something...
We also spent a few minutes looking at how to take notes during a debate. With all this crammed into their heads, we put it to use... the students worked with their partner from last week (using the same Jake and the Beanstalk debate) and tried out taking notes and rebutting by following the steps above. The debaters did a great job!
No class next week (10/12), because school is closed.
Step 1: “They say…”
Step 2: “But…”
Step 3: “Because…”
Step 4: “Therefore…”
Maybe your kid tried this out on you at home when you told them "no" to something...
We also spent a few minutes looking at how to take notes during a debate. With all this crammed into their heads, we put it to use... the students worked with their partner from last week (using the same Jake and the Beanstalk debate) and tried out taking notes and rebutting by following the steps above. The debaters did a great job!
No class next week (10/12), because school is closed.
Wednesday, September 28th - It was a full house, but we are off to a great start. The students were enthusiastic and well behaved. I think I only used one empty threat today!
We talked about what is debate and what we will be doing this year. We even tried a little debating... was Jack (of Jack and the Bean Stalk fame) right to steal the golden goose and harp from the giant. To make it more interesting, we found out that the giant had stolen those items from Jack's grandfather. The kids were randomly paired and given a side to argue. We went out to the courtyard to have a little more space to work. Once everyone had time to work in their group, we had volunteers debate again in front of the everyone. Luckily my speaker holds a charge, so all the students used microphones and everyone could hear what was happening. Even in front of all the debaters (46) and parents that arrived early for pick, I had more volunteers to debate than time.
Watch out Edgemont!
We talked about what is debate and what we will be doing this year. We even tried a little debating... was Jack (of Jack and the Bean Stalk fame) right to steal the golden goose and harp from the giant. To make it more interesting, we found out that the giant had stolen those items from Jack's grandfather. The kids were randomly paired and given a side to argue. We went out to the courtyard to have a little more space to work. Once everyone had time to work in their group, we had volunteers debate again in front of the everyone. Luckily my speaker holds a charge, so all the students used microphones and everyone could hear what was happening. Even in front of all the debaters (46) and parents that arrived early for pick, I had more volunteers to debate than time.
Watch out Edgemont!
Debate club is back this fall. Check out the attachment for more info... Click here!